Question 1

Suppose that observers using the Hubble Space Telescope detect around several solar-type stars the presence of planets with these characteristics: a density comparable to water; radii about 75,000 km; fluid surfaces; and rapid rotation. How would these planets be classified in terms of our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)   asteroids
B)   comet nuclei
C)   terrestrial planets
D)   gas giant planetsE) A) and C)
F) B) and C)

Question 2

There is very little hydrogen or helium in the inner part of the solar system today. Astronomers believe the reason for this is that

Accepted Answer

A)   all the light elements went into the formation of the Sun itself and little were left over for the rest of the solar system.
B)   the intense radiation from the early Sun drove the light elements out of the inner solar system.
C)   heavier elements were attracted in from the outer part of the solar system, displacing the light elements originally in the inner part.
D)   the light elements underwent chemical reactions and were locked up in chemicals in the inner solar system.E) B) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 3

The asteroid Gaspra (see Figure 6-4)  is typical of MOST asteroids in that it is

Accepted Answer

A)   potato-shaped with a smooth, metallic surface.
B)   spherical and densely covered with craters.
C)   potato-shaped with large and small craters.
D)   spherical and deformed by thermal activity.E) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 4

Where are the asteroids located?

Accepted Answer

A)   Their orbits are distributed more or less uniformly throughout the solar system.
B)   All asteroids have orbits between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
C)   Most asteroids have orbits between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, but some have orbits that cross those of the inner planets.
D)   Most asteroids have orbits between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, but some have orbits carrying them outside of Neptune's orbit.E) B) and C)
F) C) and D)

Question 5

At what point in time is it said that the protosun became the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)   when thermonuclear fusion reactions began at its center
B)   when it became hot enough to emit light and heat
C)   when the temperature began to rise at its center
D)   when planetary formation was completeE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 6

The manner in which the terrestrial planets formed was the

Accepted Answer

A)   gravitational condensation of hydrogen, helium, and dust in eddies or vortices in the solar nebula.
B)   gravitational condensation of gas, followed by the capture of solid planetesimals.
C)   accretion of solid planetesimals containing mostly rocky material.
D)   accretion of planetesimals to form a core, followed by the gravitational capture of gas from the solar nebula.E) C) and D)
F) A) and D)

Question 7

The word "albedo" refers to the

Accepted Answer

A)   fraction of the surface or atmosphere of a planet that is covered by clouds.
B)   ratio of infrared radiation to visible radiation emitted by a planet or other object.
C)   amount of light absorbed by a planet or other object.
D)   amount of light reflected by a planet or other object.E) None of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 8

The process of accretion in planetary formation is the

Accepted Answer

A)   slow condensation by gravity of gas atoms into large, dense gas clouds that are the preplanetary masses.
B)   slow acquisition from deep space by the giant planets of their complement of moons by gravitational capture.
C)   slow accumulation of solid particles by gravity and collision into larger, solid objects.
D)   relatively rapid gravitational collapse (in less than 106 years)  of gas clouds to form planets.E) A) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 9

Meteorites are useful for studying the earliest history of the solar system because

Accepted Answer

A)   many arrive from other solar systems, to which we can directly compare our own.
B)   most were ejected from other planets while in the process of formation.
C)   most arrive from the outer solar system, where objects are difficult to study directly.
D)   most are unchanged since their formation shortly after the solar system began.E) B) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 10

A cubewano is

Accepted Answer

A)   an instability in a black hole accretion disk.
B)   a Kuiper belt object in a fairly circular orbit that likely formed in place.
C)   an object from the Oort cloud that has an orbit carrying it through the inner solar system.
D)   a Kuiper belt object in an orbital resonance with Neptune.E) B) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 11

In which of these ways is our solar system typical of exoplanet systems so far discovered?

Accepted Answer

A)   The number of planets in our solar system is comparable to those of most exoplanet systems.
B)   The age of our solar system is close to the average age of other planetary systems.
C)   The number of gas giants in our solar system is comparable to those of most exoplanet systems.
D)   Most exoplanets have nearly circular orbits, like those in our solar system.E) A) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 12

Which of these is true of our solar system in comparison to exoplanet systems so far discovered?

Accepted Answer

A)   Most gas giant exoplanets have orbital periods comparable to gas giants in our solar system.
B)   Most gas giant planets have masses larger than gas giants in our solar system.
C)   Most terrestrial exoplanets have larger masses than terrestrial planets in our solar system.
D)   Most exoplanets have nearly circular orbits, like those in our solar system.E) A) and B)
F) A) and D)

Question 13

What name is given to the concentration of mass that formed at the center of the solar nebula and eventually became the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)   solar hub
B)   antisun
C)   pseudosun
D)   protosunE) C) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 14

As the forming planet Jupiter moved through the early outer solar system, it collided with huge numbers of gas and dust particles there. What effect did this have?

Accepted Answer

A)   The additional mass made the young Jupiter move faster, causing it to migrate inward to the region where, according to Kepler's third law, periods are shorter and speeds faster.
B)   The additional mass made the young Jupiter move more slowly, causing it to migrate outward to the region where, according to Kepler's third law, periods are longer and speeds slower.
C)   The additional mass made the young Jupiter move faster, giving it more energy and causing it to migrate outward.
D)   The additional mass made the young Jupiter move more slowly, giving it less energy and causing it to migrate inward.E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 15

Which planet in our solar system has the lowest average density?

Accepted Answer

A)   Earth
B)   Saturn
C)   Uranus
D)   JupiterE) A) and B)
F) B) and C)

Question 16

Suppose the Hubble Space Telescope discovers a series of planets with these characteristics moving around a star that resembles our Sun: spherical, solid surfaces; mean densities about 4 times that of water; radii about 4000 km; and low-density atmospheres. How would these planets be classified in comparison with our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)   terrestrial planets
B)   Jovian planets
C)   cometary nuclei
D)   asteroidsE) A) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 17

What is the origin of many of the bodies in the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud?

Accepted Answer

A)   These distant objects were ejected outflows from the Sun during the early history of the solar system.
B)   These distant objects have been captured from interstellar space by the Sun's gravitational pull.
C)   The gravitational forces from Jupiter and Saturn flung planetesimals from regions closer to the Sun out into these regions.
D)   Early in the history of the solar system it is believed that these objects were pulled out of the Sun by a close encounter with a passing star.E) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 18

Suppose Earth existed in a solar system containing two stars, relatively close together. What major change would result from such an arrangement compared to the situation at present?

Accepted Answer

A)   No substantial change would result.
B)   There are no stable orbits for such a system, so Earth would be doomed to fall into one of the stars.
C)   We would be in an orbit in which one star or the other would always be in the sky, and, without a night, our biosphere would have developed differently.
D)   We would have to be in a highly elliptical orbit giving us extremes in temperature.E) A) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 19

Cratering is common on all of the inner solar system bodies EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)   asteroids.
B)   Mercury
C)   the Moon
D)   VenusE) A) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 20

In our solar system, which of these planets is a member of the terrestrial group?

Accepted Answer

A)   Neptune
B)   Saturn
C)   Jupiter
D)   MarsE) B) and C)
F) None of the above

Exam 6: Formation of the Solar System

In our solar system, which of these planets is a member of the terrestrial group?

Correct Answer
verified

A cubewano is

Correct Answer
verified

Which planet in our solar system has the lowest average density?

Correct Answer
verified

Suppose Earth existed in a solar system containing two stars, relatively close together. What major change would result from such an arrangement compared to the situation at present?

Correct Answer
verified

Meteorites are useful for studying the earliest history of the solar system because

Correct Answer
verified

As the forming planet Jupiter moved through the early outer solar system, it collided with huge numbers of gas and dust particles there. What effect did this have?

Correct Answer
verified

Cratering is common on all of the inner solar system bodies EXCEPT

Correct Answer
verified

The manner in which the terrestrial planets formed was the

Correct Answer
verified

Where are the asteroids located?

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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What is the origin of many of the bodies in the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud?

Correct Answer
verified

At what point in time is it said that the protosun became the Sun?

Correct Answer
verified

What name is given to the concentration of mass that formed at the center of the solar nebula and eventually became the Sun?

Correct Answer
verified

There is very little hydrogen or helium in the inner part of the solar system today. Astronomers believe the reason for this is that

Correct Answer
verified

The asteroid Gaspra (see Figure 6-4) is typical of MOST asteroids in that it is

Correct Answer
verified

Which of these is true of our solar system in comparison to exoplanet systems so far discovered?

Correct Answer
verified

The word "albedo" refers to the

Correct Answer
verified

The process of accretion in planetary formation is the

Correct Answer
verified

In which of these ways is our solar system typical of exoplanet systems so far discovered?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 6: Formation of the Solar System

In our solar system, which of these planets is a member of the terrestrial group?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A cubewano is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which planet in our solar system has the lowest average density?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Suppose Earth existed in a solar system containing two stars, relatively close together. What major change would result from such an arrangement compared to the situation at present?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Meteorites are useful for studying the earliest history of the solar system because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

As the forming planet Jupiter moved through the early outer solar system, it collided with huge numbers of gas and dust particles there. What effect did this have?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Cratering is common on all of the inner solar system bodies EXCEPT

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The manner in which the terrestrial planets formed was the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Where are the asteroids located?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the origin of many of the bodies in the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

At what point in time is it said that the protosun became the Sun?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What name is given to the concentration of mass that formed at the center of the solar nebula and eventually became the Sun?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

There is very little hydrogen or helium in the inner part of the solar system today. Astronomers believe the reason for this is that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The asteroid Gaspra (see Figure 6-4) is typical of MOST asteroids in that it is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of these is true of our solar system in comparison to exoplanet systems so far discovered?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The word "albedo" refers to the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The process of accretion in planetary formation is the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In which of these ways is our solar system typical of exoplanet systems so far discovered?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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